Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-29

if is not considered proper for ladies to be
seen in the streets alone, a servant accom-
panies her (who remains in the pdtlo, Cos
slipping with other servants, while she
visits inside). or sends for two or three
female friends to join in the afternoons
advertisement.
When a bevy of bareheaded Mericanas
come trailing into the sala de recibo (recep-
tion-room) we notice that there are seldom
anv skirts cut in the style called walking
length nor ugly hats or bonnets; but
every lady's dress sweeps softly along the
floor and the lace mdntiltG of Spain, or
re5oSo of Mexico, envelopes her head and
shoulders. With many affectionate en-
braces and solicitous inquiries. such as
Como esta u ? {" How are you Ply, or Como
passe U. Ia noche {" How did you pass the
night?'') the hostess conducts them to the
circle of chairs at the furthest end OF the
sala, where they settle themselves ike
flock of birds.
And then such chattering as ensues
Smoking is not now INDUCED in by the
creme de la creme of Mexican society, but
the custom prevails among ladies not
strictly of the upper strata. Among the
middle class and those lower in the social
scale, nearly every lady's pocket is supplied
with a cigarette-holder of more or less ele-
gance (oiten solid silver). box of the in
comparable Mexican matches-sometimes
with package of tobacco and quantity OF
rice-paper or prepared corn-hu5ks, If she
is esthetic enough TO prefer doing her own
rolling In many houses cigarette-cases
are at once produced at these afternoon
"a .,V will
poiiteness and while the atmosphere
grows blue and blur, the fair ones proceed
to discuss,
BETWEEN DAINTY PUFFs,
All the affairs of this mundane sphere-at
least, so far as their knowledge thereof ex-
tends. 1t must be confessed that they are
less prone to vicious gossip than their
Northern cousins partly, no doubt, be-
cause the social restrictions that environ
them effectually shut out understanding OF
the evils of the world, and to their un-
spoiled imaginations the entire human
family is as guileless as themselves. Here
again the wisdom of p1terJamilidS IS ap-
parent in having excluded current litera-
ture.
They chat glibly enough, however, with
understandable animation and thousand
graceful gestures, keeping the hands con-
stantly in motion as well as the head and
body, and emphasizing their words with
flashing eyes, which i'll one moment can
express more shades OF emotlon-love,
anger. hate, jealousy, passion, despair,
mirth, happiness-than the average Amer1-
can woman can in a lifetime. They talk
of the last bali and the coming fiesta, of
bull-fghts and promenades, of Juanita's
serenade and Josefa's lover, discuss the
health aud welfare of mutual friends and
expatiate on the merits of their respective
children-by no meaDs neglecting the fash
ions, and similar topics which the sex, OF
whatever nationality, delight in.
At 4 o'clock, or Whereabouts, is the con-
ventional time for chocolate" and callers
are pressed to partake of the customary re-
freshment The light repast, which takes
the place of English tea,n may be served
either in the sala or dining-room, and con-
sists merely of small cups of chocolate or
coffee, with pan dulce Tiny loaves OF
sweetened bread), accompanied perhaps by
guaya jelly or other sweetmeats. For
EVENING ADJUSTMENTS.
These music-loving people are inveterate
opera and theatergoers and besides, there
is no lack of balls, fiestas and private par
ties-not to mention the nightly promenade
in the fowery plaza, where bands play and
everybody congregates to spend social
hour among sweet scents and sounds.
In the capital and other of the large
Mexican cities, it is the correct thing to
take sunset drive on the Pdseo, or fash
ionable boulevard, where all the wealth,
beauty and elegance of the vicinage daily
display themselves in purple and fine
linen" with bewildering futter of fans and
fash of jewels and gorgeousness Of equi-
page.
Mexican mothers are the most affection
ate in the world, invariably addressing their
offspring as mi ride e. my life y or mi alma
{" my soul }, and attending well to their
moral and spiritual condition. But they
are seldom allowed the privilege of sucking
their infants, that maternal duty being pro-
hibited by native physicians as involving
too severe tax upon the delicate constitu-
tons of patrician wives. In this land of
cheap labor, where the serving classes SO
greatly outnumber those who are able to
employ them, it is customary TO engage
new nurse with the advent of every child,
who henceforth resides in the family and
has entire care of her charge through its
childhood. For the first year of its exist
ence some young and healthy Indian
woman is also employed as wet nurse, it
being popularity believed that in such cap
acity the sturdy Aztec race are as superior
in the human species as are Jerseys" in
the bovine.
Too much cannot be said in praise of
Mexican children. In all my long resi-
dence here have seldom seen rude or
ill-mannered child-their innate polite
ness appearing to be as much a natural in
stinct as the result of careful training.
Upon entering a room when company is
present, even the smallest toddler will go
S. -
shaking hands with each while submitting
TO the caresses showered upon them. If
you meet lad in the streets, off will come
his sombrero in twinkling. while he
makes an 0beisance which dancing mas
ter might envy. Even the gGniinS are ia
nous for politeness, and the raggedest beg
gar will acknowledge your gilt with the
bow of courtier.
The quaint remarks of some of these lit
tie ones are exceedingly amusing. For ex-
ample, my little friend Jagged g. whose
ponderous name is nearly IS long as her
self, being no less than Guadalupe Isabella
Josifina Marie Figuroa de S., meets
me every morning as l emerge rom my
room, with hand outstretched for its Gus
temary shake, invariably inquiring as
gravely as her elders, " Como passe U. Ia
,,oche' ?"
Dinner being delayed one day, the
child turned to me with the most in
nocent expression on her sweet face
and piped forth, Jesus sino tengo ham5rep'
{" Jesus, but l am hungry") without
thought of irreverence in the ejaculation.
In moments of sudden fright or distress
the merest infant will cross himself and
murmur, " Vdlgd me DioS!' ('' Protect me,
God'l, as devoutly as his mother.
FANNIE B. WARD.
Rules for Family Peace.
l. We may be quite sure that our will is
likely to be crossed to-day. so prepare for